Pound-in glide for an article of furniture

ABSTRACT

An article of furniture ( 22 ) having an opening ( 62 ) is configured with a support ( 20 ) operable to serve as a glide and as a floor surface protector. The support includes a body ( 40 ) having a boss ( 45 ) with a plurality of collapsible mounting boss sections ( 65 ). The boss sections define an axial passage ( 80, 90 ) therebetween and extending through the body. When inserted into the opening in the article of furniture, the edge defining the opening moves the boss sections radially inward relative to the edge of the opening toward a collapsed condition. The support further includes a wedge configured to be driven by an applied force into the passage of the body. The driven wedge is configured to move the boss sections apart against the edge of the opening to secure the body member to the article of furniture.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/460,065, filed Apr. 3, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to furniture, and moreparticularly to a glide arrangement for an article of furniture such asa chair, in which the glide arrangement is configured for connection toa tubular support associated with the article of furniture.

There is a sizable and constant demand for rugged, comfortable andattractive utility chairs of the type used in schools, auditoriums,convention centers, hotels and the like. In an educational setting, itis common for such a chair to have a frame that supports a desktop orworksurface, to form a desk that may be used in a classroom or the like.These types of chairs are subjected to continuous and rigorous use.Typically, the frame for a chair of this type includes a tubular metalmember that is bent into a desired configuration, which often includes asection that is adapted to rest on a support surface such as a floor.Typically, casters or glides are employed to permit the article offurniture to be slid and thus shifted from place to place withoutmarring or excessively wearing the finish or surface of the floor.

Certain known types of glide arrangements are attached to the tubularframe of a chair or the like using rivets, screws or the like. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,897 discloses a certain known chairconstruction employing a glide arrangement that includes fastener glidesfastened to runners of the chair by means of screws. While this type ofglide arrangement functions satisfactorily to support the chair frameabove a support surface such as a floor, it entails certain drawbacks inassembly and operation. For example, a glide of this type utilizesseveral components, which must be stocked separately and which requireseveral steps in order to assemble the glide to the frame. In addition,the use of a screw or other fastener results in the head of the screw orother fastener becoming exposed as the surrounding areas of the glidewear away after extended periods of use. This causes the screw orfastener head to scratch or mar the floor or other surface duringmovement of the chair.

There thus exists a need for a glide arrangement that simplifies theconstruction and assembly of the glide to the article of furniturewithout sacrificing protection of the floor surface, and which preventsexposure of a fastener head in order to eliminate the potential for theglide to scratch the floor surface, even after extended usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contemplates a glide arrangement that is operableto overcome the drawbacks of the prior art as discussed in the precedingparagraphs by providing a uniquely constructed, easily installed anddurable glide arrangement which serves as a satisfactory glide and floorsurface protector. The glide arrangement of the present invention isformed of a plastic or equivalent material which is of requisiterigidity and which is configured for quick and easy installation on atubular support for an article of furniture, and which is capable ofproviding support for the article of furniture while protecting thefloor or other support surface, even after extended periods of use.

The glide arrangement of the present invention employs a floor engagingmember that includes a plug section configured to be slidably insertedthrough an opening formed in a bottom support member of an article offurniture such as a chair. The plug section is capable of deflectinginwardly upon engagement with the opening in the support member. Theplug section is then expandable into engagement with the edge area ofthe opening, to retain the plug section, and thereby the floor engagingmember, in engagement with the support member of the article offurniture.

In one embodiment, the floor engaging member is in the form of a bodyhaving an engagement surface configured to engage a downwardly facingsurface of the support member. The plug section is in the form of amounting boss having a plurality of collapsible mounting boss sections.The boss sections define an axial passage therebetween and extendingthrough the body. When inserted into the opening in the support member,the edge of the opening engages the boss sections and moves the bosssections radially inward relative to the edge of the opening, toward acollapsed condition. The glide arrangement further includes a wedgeconfigured to be driven by an applied force into the passage defined bythe mounting boss sections. The driven wedge is configured to move theboss sections apart and into engagement with the edge of the opening, tosecure the body to the support member of the article of furniture.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the presentinvention provides a glide arrangement for use in supporting an articleof furniture. The article of furniture includes one or more tubularmembers that support the article of furniture on a floor surface. Thetubular member includes an opening configured to receive the glidearrangement. The glide arrangement includes a body having an uppersurface and a lower surface. The upper surface has a series of bosssections having a space therebetween. The boss sections are configuredto collapse radially inwardly, to allow the boss sections to be insertedthrough the opening in the tubular member. The glide arrangement alsoincludes a wedge coupled to the body and aligned along an axis parallelto the boss sections. The wedge includes a series of radially-outwardextending guide members aligned generally perpendicular relative to oneother. The wedge is operable to force the collapsed boss sections in aradially outward direction such that the boss sections engage againstthe edge of the tubular member that defines the opening. Thereby, thepressure of the wedge against the boss sections secures the glidearrangement to the article of furniture.

The present invention also provides a method of mounting a support to anarticle of furniture that includes an opening defined by an edge of afurniture support member. The method of the invention comprises thesteps of inserting a mounting boss associated with the support into theopening, wherein the mounting boss includes a number of mounting bosssections that define a passage therebetween; moving the boss sectionsinto the opening, so that the boss sections move radially inward to acollapsed condition; driving a wedge into the passage defined by theboss sections; and moving the plurality of boss sections radiallyoutward via inward movement of the wedge, so that the boss sectionsengage against the edge of the opening to secure the support to thearticle of furniture.

Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will bemade apparent from the following description taken together with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carryingout the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an article of furniture employing theglide arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed, partially exploded view of the glide arrangementof the present invention for mounting to the article of furniture shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged isometric view of a glide arrangementassembled on the article of furniture shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the glide arrangement of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the glide arrangement shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the glide arrangement shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the glide arrangement or FIG. 4coupled to a support member of an article of furniture, showing theglide arrangement in an unfastened position;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 7, showing the glidearrangement in a fastened position;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the glide arrangement shown in the unfastenedposition of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the glide arrangement shown in the fastenedposition of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross section view along line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross section view along line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a partial cross section view along line 13-13 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a partial cross section view along line 14-14 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 15 is a partial cross section view along line 15-15 of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a support in the form of a glide arrangement 20 isadapted for connection to a surface of an article of furniture. In theillustrated embodiment, the article of furniture is in the form of adesk assembly 22 that includes a frame structure having a seat section24 and a desk section 26, which are interconnected by a pair of runners30. In this embodiment, the desk assembly 22 includes a frame that isconstructed of metal tubing, which is bent to the illustratedconfiguration and assembled together with the seating and deskcomponents to form the desk assembly 22. The glide arrangements 20 aremounted to each runner 30 adjacent opposite ends defined by the runner30. In this manner, each glide arrangement 20 functions to elevate eachrunner 30 relative to the floor or other support surface on which thedesk assembly 22 is adapted to be placed. It should be understood thatthe illustrated construction is representative, and that the glidearrangement 20 may be used in combination with any article of furniture,wall panel, or the like in which it is desirable to space a lowercomponent of the furniture or wall panel above a floor surface, orrelative to another component or any other surface.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4-6, the glide arrangement 20 generallyincludes a body 40 in combination with a plug section or boss 45 and awedge 50. The body 40 defines an upper surface 55 configured to matchthe downwardly facing surface of the runner 30. In the illustratedembodiment, the upper surface 55 of the body 40 includes anarcuate-shaped channel configured to receive the arcuate-shaped outersurface of the runner 30. Again, it is understood that the upper surface55 of the body 40 can have any satisfactory configuration, and may notnecessarily have a configuration that matches or corresponds to thefurniture component to which the glide arrangement 20 is adapted to bemounted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the body 40 further includes anouter surface 60 having a lower area adapted to rest on the floor orother supporting surface for the article of furniture. In theillustrated embodiment, the lower area is arcuate-shaped similar to thearcuate-shape of the runner 30. Yet, it is understood that theconfiguration of the lower area of the outer surface 60 can vary.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 7, the boss 45 is adapted to be insertedinto an opening 62 formed in the runner 30. The boss 45 is divided intoa number of sections, which may be in the form of fouridentically-shaped boss sections 65, each of which is separated from theadjacent boss section 65 by a gap or space 70. The boss sections 65surround a central passage 80, and the spaces 70 are in communicationwith the passage 80.

Each boss section 65 further includes a beveled or tapered inner edge82. The tapered edges 82 of the boss sections 65 are configured toenhance insertion of the boss 45 into the hole 62 in the tubular framestructure of the runner 30, which has a diameter smaller than thediameter defined by boss 45. Yet, the shape (e.g., curvilinear, stepped,square, etc.) of the free ends of the boss sections 65 can vary.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 7 and 13, boss sections 65 extend upwardly from abase section 88, which is defined by the central area of body 40. In theillustrated embodiment, boss sections 65 and base section 88 are formedintegrally with each other.

A passage or opening 90 is formed in base section 88, and extends alongan axial direction between the outer surface 60 of the body 40 and anupper edge, shown at 91. Passage 90 is configured to have a crosssection that matches that of spaces 70 and passage 80 of boss 45. Thatis, passage 90 includes four generally perpendicular passage sectionsthat radiate outwardly from a central axial section. As illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 7, each space 70 between an adjacent pair of boss sections65 is in communication and alignment with one of the outwardly radiatingsections of the passage 90, and passage 80 of boss section 45 is incommunication and alignment with the central axial section of passage90.

An annular recess 92 is formed in body 60 around boss 45. Recess 92separates boss sections 65 from body 60 above the upper edge 91 of basesection 88. Recess 92 extends inwardly from an upper edge 93 thatintersects with the upper surface 55 of body 40, and the lower extent ofrecess 92 is defined by the upper edge 91 of base section 88. Thisconstruction enables the boss sections 65 to flex toward and away fromone other, for reasons to be explained.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 9 and 11-13, the wedge 50 and the body 40 arepreferably formed of a thermoplastic material in the same moldingoperation, such that the wedge 50 and the body 40 are integrally coupledto one other. Wedge 50 is molded in an extended position in which wedge50 extends outwardly from the outer surface 60 of the body 40. FIG. 11illustrates the manner in which wedge 50 is molded or formed so as to beinterconnected with body 60. The wedge 50 includes an inner end 95 thatis interconnected with the material of the body 40 via frangible tabs orconnectors 100. As shown in FIG. 7, the inner end 95 of the wedge 50 hasa shape that corresponds to the outer surface 60 of the body 40, whichin the illustrated embodiment is generally arcuate-shaped. As it ismolded or formed as shown in FIG. 11, the inner end 95 of the wedge 50is located slightly inwardly from the outer surface 60 of the body 40,and the frangible connectors 100 comprise portions of material thatextend between the inner end 95 of the wedge 50 and the adjacent edgesthe central axial section of passage 90, at a location at which passage90 opens onto the outer surface 60 of the body 40. Each connector 100 islocated between the inner ends of an adjacent pair of outwardlyradiating sections of passage 90.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, 14, and 15, an outer end 97 of the wedge50 is also arcuate-shaped, and defines an outer surface that correspondsto the arcuate outer surface 60 of the body 40. When the wedge 50 isdriven into the opening 90 of the body 40, as will be explained, theouter end 97 of the wedge is generally flush with the outer surface 60of the body 40 and acts with the body 40 to provide a glide and surfaceprotector for the article of furniture.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 6-8, and 10, the wedge 50 includes anaxially-extending central section 105 integrally coupled with a seriesof radially-outward extending guide members 110 aligned generallyperpendicular relative to one other. The central section 105 has across-section that generally conforms to and is in alignment with thatof the central passage 80 defined by the boss 45 and the central axialsection of passage 90 in base section 88. Central section 105 has alength slightly greater than the combined thickness of base section 88and height of boss 45. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, each guide member 110has a cross-section that conforms to and is in alignment with one ofspaces 70 defined by boss 45 and an aligned outwardly radiating sectionof passage 90. Each guide member 110 has a length slightly greater thanthe combined thickness of base section 88 and an aligned one of thespaces 70 between the boss sections 65. In the illustrated embodiment ofthe wedge 50, two of the guide members 110 are located in alignment withthe longitudinal axis 116 of the body 40, and the other two of the guidemembers 110 are oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis 116 ofthe body 40, and in alignment with each other. Each longitudinallyextending guide member 110 may include a radially outwardly extendingtab 120 operable to be driven into an outer area 117 of one of theoutwardly radiating sections of passage 90 defined in the body 40.

In operation, the glide arrangement 20 is mounted to the runner 30 asfollows. Initially, the hole 62 is formed in the runner 30 in thelocation at which the glide arrangement 20 is to be mounted. Thediameter of the hole 62 is smaller than the diameter defined by the boss45. As noted previously, the runner 30 is formed of a tubular material,such that the material of the runner 30 defines a circular orcurvilinear edge bordering the hole 62, which is in communication withthe passage defined by the runner 30 due to its tubular construction.The boss 45 of the wedge 50 is inserted into the hole 62 formed in therunner 30.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 13, the tapered edge 82 of each boss section 65facilitates engagement of the boss 45 with the edge of the hole 62. Anaxial force applied to the body 40 (e.g., application of a pushing forceon the body 40 on either side of the wedge 50) fully inserts the boss 45into the hole 62. As the boss 45 enters through the hole 62, the uppersurface 55 of the body 40 engages the surface of the runner 30 adjacentto the hole 62. The edge of the hole 62 rides along the outer surfacesof the boss sections 65 to cause the boss sections 65 to collapsetogether. The collapse of the boss sections 65 closes the spaces 70between the adjacent boss sections 65 and moves boss sections 65inwardly into the central passage 80. The outer surfaces of bosssections 65 engage the edge of hole 62, to maintain the glidearrangement 20 in frictional engagement with runner 30.

After the boss sections 65 collapse upon insertion of the boss 45 intothe hole 62, the user pounds or applies an axial insertion force to movethe wedge 50 inward through the hole 62, typically by striking the outerend 97 of wedge 50. The inward force applied to wedge 50 breaksfrangible tabs 100 between the body 40 and the wedge 50, as illustratedin FIG. 12, and causes wedge 50 to move into passage 90 in base section88. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, continued inward movement of the wedge50 forces each guide member 110 into the aligned space 70 between bosssections 65, and also forces the central section 105 of the wedge 50into the central passage 80. Such inward movement of the wedge 50 also Sforces the collapsed together boss sections 65 to move radiallyoutwardly apart relative to one another. Such outward movement of theboss sections 65 by inward movement of wedge 50 functions to drive theouter surfaces of the boss sections 65 into engagement with the edge ofthe opening 62. The outer surface of each boss section 65 engages theedge of the opening 62 in the vicinity of each boss section 65 adjacentthe upper surface 55 of the body 40. In this manner, the edge of theopening 62 digs into each boss section 65, functioning to maintain thebody 40 in engagement with the runner 30.

FIGS. 3, 8, 10, and 14-15 illustrate the glide arrangement in a fastenedpositioned. The wedge 50 is driven into the body 40 such that the outerend 97 of the wedge 50 is flush with the outer surface 60 of the body 40and the outwardly extending tabs 120 are received in one of theoutwardly radiating sections of passage 90. The configuration of theouter end of the wedge 50 is of a shape that enables the wedge 50 to bepositioned in a flush relationship with the outer surface 60 of the body40.

It can thus be appreciated that the glide arrangement 20 provides a onepiece construction that combines both the glide itself as well as themeans by which the glide is coupled to the article of furniture. Thisarrangement replaces a three piece assembly of the prior art, whichincludes a glide, a washer and a screw that is threaded into a tappedhole formed in the runner or other furniture components to which theglide is to be assembled. This construction further eliminates the needto tap the hole used to mount the glide. Accordingly the presentinvention provides a significant decrease in the number of parts thatmust be handled in order to mount the glide to the article of furniture,and also provides a mounting method which is quicker and simpler than inthe prior art.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to aspecific embodiment, it is contemplated that certain details may varyfrom the specific construction as disclosed, while still falling withinthe scope of the present invention. For example, and without limitation,while boss 45 is illustrated as having a round cross section, it iscontemplated that the cross section of the space 70 may also benoncircular. In an arrangement such as this the opening of the furniturecomponent has a corresponding shape, and in any event must have aconfiguration that functions to collapse the boss sections when the bossis inserted into the opening. Further, while the boss 45 is shown asbeing divided into four sections, it is also contemplated that the boss45 may be divided into any number of sections which can be collapsiblyengaged within the opening and then forced outwardly into engagementwith the edges of the opening. In addition, it is also contemplated thatthe wedge 50 may be formed separately from the body 40. While this doesnot provide the one piece construction as shown and described, andnonetheless reduces the overall part count and provides a significantlysimpler and quicker installation method, relative to the known priorart, by providing a pound-in construction rather than a constructionthat is secured in place via a screw-type fastener. In addition, whilethe glide arrangement of the present invention has been shown anddescribed as being engaged with a tubular support for the article offurniture, it is understood that the glide arrangement of the inventionmay be mounted to any portion of an article of furniture that faces asupport surface such as a floor, and which is capable of having anopening formed therein for receiving and mounting the glide arrangement.In addition, it is understood that the glide arrangement of the presentinvention maybe used in connection with any type of furniture, and isnot limited to use in combination with a desk as shown and described.

Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being withinthe scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

1. A support for an article of furniture, comprising: a furnituresupport member having a lower portion that extends parallel to a supportsurface and which defines a downwardly facing arcuate outer surfacehaving an opening having an edge; and a glide for connection to thelower portion of the support member, wherein the glide comprises: a bodyhaving an arcuate inner engagement surface, wherein the arcuate innerengagement surface has a curvature that matches that of the downwardlyfacing arcuate outer surface defined by the lower portion of the supportmember, wherein the body includes a boss having a plurality of spacedapart collapsible mounting boss sections that define an axial passagetherebetween, and wherein engagement of the mounting boss sections withthe edge of the opening in the furniture support member causes themounting boss sections to move radially inward relative to the edge ofthe opening toward a collapsed condition; and a wedge configured to bedriven by an applied force into a passage defined by the body and intothe passage defined by the mounting boss sections, wherein the wedgemoves the mounting boss sections apart from the collapsed condition intoengagement with the edge of the opening to secure the body to thefurniture support member, and wherein engagement of the mounting bosssections with the edge of the opening functions to maintain the arcuateinner engagement surface of the body against the downwardly facingarcuate outer surface defined by the lower portion of the supportmember.
 2. The support of claim 1, wherein the wedge is initially formedin an extended position, wherein the wedge is interconnected with thebody via one or more frangible connectors, and wherein the one or morefrangible connectors are operable to break when the wedge is subjectedto the applied force that moves the wedge from the extended positioninto the passages defined by the body and the boss sections.
 3. Thesupport of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of mounting bosssections includes a free end having a tapered edge configured to enhanceinsertion of the mounting boss sections into the opening.
 4. The supportof claim 1, wherein adjacent mounting boss sections define a spacetherebetween.
 5. The support of claim 4, wherein the wedge includes oneor more radially-outward extending guide members aligned generallyperpendicular relative to one another.
 6. The support of claim 5,wherein each of the radially-outward extending guide members is operableto move into one of the spaces aligned with each guide member anddefined by the adjacent mounting boss sections.
 7. The support of claim1, wherein the wedge includes an inner end and an outer end, and whereinthe body includes an outer surface that faces outwardly relative to theinner surface, and wherein the outer end of the wedge and the outersurface of the body have a matching arcuate configuration.
 8. A supportfor an article of furniture having an opening having an edge,comprising: a body having a boss that includes a plurality ofcollapsible spaced apart mounting boss sections that define an axialpassage therebetween, wherein engagement with the edge of the opening inthe article of furniture causes the mounting boss sections to moveradially inward relative to the edge of the opening toward a collapsedcondition; and a wedge configured to be driven by an applied force intoa passage defined by the body, wherein the wedge includes one or moreradially-outward extending guide members aligned generally perpendicularrelative to one another, wherein the wedge moves the boss sections apartagainst the edge of the opening to secure the body to the article offurniture, and wherein the one more radially-outward extending guidemembers are operable to move into an aligned space defined by adjacentmounting boss sections; wherein one or more of the radially-outwardextending guide members includes a tab extending radially outward fromthe guide member, and wherein the body includes one or more outer areasin communication with the passage defined by the body, wherein the outerareas are configured to receive the tab.
 9. A method of mounting asupport to an article of furniture, comprising the steps of: providing afurniture support member having a lower portion that extends parallel toa support surface and which defines a downwardly facing arcuate outersurface having an opening having an edge; connecting a glide to thelower portion of the support member, wherein the glide includes a bodyhaving an arcuate inner engagement surface, wherein the arcuate innerengagement surface has a curvature that matches that of the downwardlyfacing arcuate outer surface defined by the lower portion of the supportmember, wherein the body includes a boss having a plurality of spacedapart collapsible mounting boss sections that define an axial passagetherebetween; inserting the mounting boss into the opening, wherein themounting boss sections move radially inward to a collapsed condition;driving a wedge into a passage defined by the body and into the passagedefined by the plurality of boss sections; and moving the plurality ofboss sections radially outward against the edge of the opening bymovement of the wedge, such that the glide is secured to the furnituresupport member, wherein engagement of the mounting boss sections withthe edge of the opening functions to maintain the arcuate innerengagement surface of the body against the downwardly facing arcuateouter surface defined by the lower portion of the support member. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein the wedge is formed integrally with thebody and interconnected by a frangible connector that maintains thewedge in an extended position relative to the body, and wherein thedriving step includes breaking the frangible connector between the wedgeand the body to enable inward movement of the wedge into the passagedefined by the body.
 11. The method of claim 10, further including thestep of aligning a lower end of the wedge with an outer surface of thebody.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wedge includes a pluralityof guide members extending radially outward relative to one another,wherein adjacent boss sections define a space therebetween, and whereinthe method includes the step of driving each of the guide members intoone of the spaces defined between adjacent boss sections.
 13. A methodof mounting a support to an article of furniture having an openinghaving an edge, comprising the steps of: inserting a mounting bossassociated with the support into the opening, wherein the mounting bossincludes a plurality of spaced apart mounting boss sections that definea passage therebetween, and wherein a space is defined between adjacentboss sections; moving the plurality of boss sections radially inward toa collapsed condition; providing a wedge having an inner end and anouter end and a plurality of guide members extending radially outwardrelative to one another; positioning the inner end of the wedge adjacentan outer surface defined by a body; and driving the wedge into thepassage defined by the plurality of boss sections, wherein the wedge isformed integrally with the body and interconnected by a frangibleconnector that maintains the wedge in an extended position relative tothe body, and wherein the step of driving the wedge includes breakingthe frangible connector between the wedge and the body to enable inwardmovement of the wedge into the passage, and further includes drivingeach of the guide members into one of the spaces defined betweenadjacent boss sections; moving the plurality of boss sections radiallyoutward against the edge defining the opening by movement of the wedge,such that the support is secured to the article of furniture; whereinthe body includes a first outer area and a second outer area incommunication with a passage defined by the body and generally alignedalong a longitudinal axis of the body, wherein each of a pair of guidemembers of the wedge includes a tab extending radially outward from theguide member in general alignment with the first and the second outerareas; and wherein the step of driving the wedge into the passagedefined by the plurality of boss sections includes driving the tabs intothe respective outer areas to secure the position of the supportrelative to the article of furniture.
 14. For use in supporting anarticle of furniture of a type having a construction of at least onetubular legs in support of the article of furniture on a floor surface,a glide arrangement configured to be employed between the tubular legand the floor surface, the at least one tubular legs having an openinghaving an edge and receiving the glide arrangement, the glidearrangement comprising: a body having an upper surface and a lowersurface, the upper surface having a plurality of spaced apart bosssections having a passage therebetween and having a space betweenadjacent boss sections, the boss sections configured to collapseradially inward and insert through the opening in the tubular leg; and awedge coupled to the body and aligned along an axis parallel to the bosssections, the wedge including a plurality of radially-outward extendingguide members aligned generally perpendicular relative to one other,wherein the wedge is movable into the body and wherein the one moreradially-outward extending guide members are operable to move into therespective spaces defined between the adjacent boss sections, whereinmovement of the wedge into the body is operable to force the bosssections in a radially outward direction such that the boss sectionsengage against the edge of the opening to secure the glide arrangementto the article of furniture; wherein one or more of the radially outwardextending guide members includes a tab extending radially outward fromthe guide member, and wherein the body includes one or more outer areasin communication with a passage defined by the body, each of which isconfigured to receive one of the tabs.
 15. The glide arrangement ofclaim 14, wherein the wedge is initially formed in an extended position,wherein the wedge is interconnected with the body via one or morefrangible connectors, and wherein the one or more frangible connectorsare operable to break when the wedge is subjected to an applied forcethat moves the wedge from the extended position into the passagesdefined by the body and the boss sections.
 16. The support of claim 14,wherein each of the plurality of mounting boss sections includes a freeend having a tapered edge configured to enhance insertion of themounting boss sections into the opening in the article of furniture.